Pistols, who hunts with them

Gus Orviston · 11-08-2002, 08:03 AM

I have been wanting to see who else out there aspires or has taken a deer/elk with a pistol? What do you like, where and how do you hunt with it; stand, stalk, etc.. have you been successful??

If I am looking over a clear cut I am using a rifle, if something has to be stalked I will take my pistol and I make a point of only taking my pistol on cat road sneaks...2 years now and nothing with the pistol, but I am trying.

I shoot a 454 FA premiere grade, 7 1/2 barrel. I have both the pistol and rifle porting on it. It is really an amazing pistol. it is a near work of art from right from the factory. I have a burris 1.5-4x on it...wish I never did that though. I can't stop the scope from moving and have gone round and round with Burris trying to get the rings to hold. Off the bags I can shoot a 5 shot 3" group at 100yds. The load I like is a copy of the Winchester Supreme, 34gr H110 and the 260g nosler partition...if I can't get the Noslers I will load Hornaday XTP/Mag or HP/XTP...the latter has thinner jacketed walls and concerns me a bit, so i don't hunt with it.

I also carry 44 SRH, with a trigger kit, super fun to shoot, and I load the Elmer Keith 250gr leadcast with H110 or 2400. H110 leaves the gun a bit cleaner. I always hate running ot of ammo with this gun, it is so darn fun to shoot---I often won't share it. I mounted a red dot and use this gun when I know the shooting is sub 75yds or so.

Anybody else out there into pistols for fun or hunting?

skein · 11-08-2002, 08:14 AM

My brother and I both use pistols for coyote hunting - not exclusively, but often enough to have made some kills. Many times a coyote will pop up at 25 yards or less and it's almost too close for a varmint rifle. He uses a 454 Ruger Super Blackhawk and I use either a 44 mag Ruger Bisley or my 357 Smith. Iron sights on all of 'em.

I also shoot some Big-bore Silhouette which keeps my technique honed up. I'm not a threat to the real s*******, but average about 19-20 with my 44. I've managed to clean the pigs at 100 yards, but never made a sweep on the turkeys. It is fun though.

I've never hunted big game with my pistol, probably because I get too serious about putting meat on the table and can't force myself to just give it a try. Maybe one of these days....

You ever hunt coyotes?

Skein

Gus Orviston · 11-08-2002, 09:34 AM

Once with a bow, but not with a rifle though. I have pulled down on them with the rifle but haven't fired. Mostly because I see them as a eco benefit...without coyotes the prairie dogs take over. But then again killing coyotes leaves more target for the varmit s******* :grin:

I would like to do the Shoot Big-bore Silhouette, where/when do you do that.

I like those Bisley's, it is on my wish list along with a SW mtn 45LC.

skein · 11-08-2002, 01:58 PM

Yeah, Gus, I hear you. This last weekend while elk hunting, I could have taken three 'yotes, but just watched them instead. Two of them never knew I was there, but the other one put the brakes on with that "oh crap" look on his face. I just waved at him and he trotted back to the little point of cover he came from. When he stopped at the edge he was invisible had I not known he was there. Good lesson in that - movement is usually what gives us away.

I only shoot at the ones I call in. That way it's a sport, not target practice. And I started because I was interested in predator control, not because I had ever given much thought to "hunting" them. I duck hunt over at Warner Wetlands and back when I started there were so many coyotes that it was claimed they were killing *all* the antelope fawns in a given year, as well as a lots of waterfowl. I'm not sure either claim is true, except I do believe they kill ducks with great efficiency. Anyway, I would go over scouting and make a few setups, and found it was pretty darned exciting as well as being a good tuneup for big game season. Then when the season started I would hunt ducks in the AM, and when they quit flying, grab my ghillie suit and my 22-250 and go coyote calling. Even my wife got hooked on it.

Anyway, I've learned to respect 'ol pointy ears and have learned lots about him - not just tricks for taking him, but how he lives and what he eats. Nowadays I always ask a farmer before I shoot over his rat fields if he wants me to leave coyotes alone. Some of them say yes, leave 'em because they eat rats, but a surprising number ask me to kill any badgers I see since they really tear a field up.

Sorry to ramble. It's just that coyotes are a worthy opponent, and a year-round sport. Hunting with a pistol just takes it to an even higher level.

Skein

KingFisher85 · 11-08-2002, 03:39 PM

Ya, if I'm luckey I use a pistol. I use for deer a Thompson contender in 35 rem 14 inch barrel with a Leupold 3-7 powered pistol scope. Shot a buck with it, one shot at about 50 yards and dropped it.
I also have for it a 14 inch 22 lr barrel with a Leupold fixed pistol scope. This barrel had dropped many grouse and one coyote and also put the kill shot to my friends deer.
Both shoot really good. I like both a lot.

Now does any one know any thing about the 7mm-08 caliber? Can you use this caliber to hunt deer in Washington State? I know nothing about this caliber. But I can get a used 14 inch barrel for a really good price.

11-08-2002, 03:54 PM

S&W Clasic Hunter 44Mag and a Contender with 357 maxum and 7mmX30 barrels.

KF85,
The 7X30 should do what you need in a pistol. I have a 7-08 in a Ruger #1 that I like.

[ 11-08-2002, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Keta ]

KingFisher85 · 11-08-2002, 04:12 PM

OH my bad, its a 7mm-223
So does anyone have any info about this caliber? I have no idea about it.

[ 11-08-2002, 05:12 PM: Message edited by: KingFisher85 ]

11-08-2002, 05:02 PM

Not enough for deer.

bllelk · 11-08-2002, 05:12 PM

Well Guys I've got a Pelican case full of barrels for my TC. It's kind of like "What do you think Old Sport? The 45/70 or the 35 Rem.?" I have three scopes all 2x Burris and quick mounts to slip a scope on another barrel. I figure if I'm not going to kill something, I'll just carry my pistol instead of messing with a rifle. Just kidding :grin: .
I have killed a spike bull with the 35 Rem but wasn't really pleased with the kill so I've upgraded to the 45/70 with a muzzle brake. It actually is a little more of a pleasure to shoot than the 35 but not much. I expect I'll use the 45/70 next year when I figure out what and where around here.